The Crow Lane club are keen to build on an excellent 2016/17 campaign, especially after a solid pre-season

Jordan Wigham is excited to help London Two North East side Romford & Gidea Park push forward and work under director of rugby Steve Barfoot.

The experienced coach has joined the staff at Crow Lane after previously having links with Dagenham RFC.

Wigham is looking forward to his opportunity with Park and hoping to get them back into the London One North in time.

He said: “There were a few offers on the table and all exciting opportunities, but Romford has been a club I have watched progress over a number of years.

“To be given the opportunity to come in and work with the first-team is a massive privilege for me.

“The club have had some up and down years, but I believe myself and Dave Gilmore, under the leadership of Steve Barfoot, have the ability to coach the rugby that will get the club to where it should be and who knows what will happen from there.

“It’s an extremely exciting time to be working with such a talented group of guys and I am hoping to see them progress throughout the course of the season and fulfil their potential.”

Wigham didn’t join Romford until they were midway through their preparations for the new 2017/18 campaign.

But he has been impressed with what he has witnessed so far from a squad which came fourth in the London Two North East last time out.

“My arrival was midway through pre-season, but Dave had worked extremely hard to get the guys up to speed,” said Wigham.

“We have changed the philosophy of how we want to play and have a great culture throughout the squad this year.

“A few new players have come in and some old ones have come back, while we have also signed some youngsters that are really bedding in well to an already talented group.

“We have tried to get away from the old concept of ‘beasting’ in pre season, so we have revolved it around playing the games and introduced a lot of small sided matches with separate skill areas to really develop the players fitness and skill levels.

“By doing that we have seen a rapid increase in both of those areas, so pre-season went well.”